School Choice On the Move in the South
School choice is on the move. According to recent election results in Texas and legislative activity in Louisiana, school choice is becoming increasingly popular amongst the American electorate.
Education has been a hotly contested issue nationwide as communities continue to push back on the inappropriate influence of teachers’ unions in public school buildings. More parents are choosing to run for a school board seat only to find their hands remain tied due to inappropriate state mandates and regulations driven by interference from teachers’ unions.
In my previous piece, “Why America’s Students Will Benefit from School Choice” I mentioned that I was fortunate to attend a top-level public high school, which created opportunity and I was able to find success. Many students remain confined to their school districts with failing proficiency scores, which severely limits any opportunities. This is why school choice is important for states to pass. I highly recommend reading this piece.
In Texas, numerous pro-school choice candidates won their primary, defeating anti-school choice candidates. There were 21 contested primary races where school-choice candidates challenged anti-school-choice candidates. 14 of 21 school choice candidates won their respective primary. Governor Greg Abbott praised the election results signifying the beginning of Texas adopting school choice. “While we did not win every race we fought in, the overall message from this year’s primaries is clear: Texans want school choice,” said Abbott, who channeled all his energy and resources toward securing a pro-voucher majority in the House.” This is something Governor Abbott has dedicated a lot of time to accomplishing. Many Republican-leaning Governors have it a priority to pass school choice in their states.
In Louisiana, the state senate passed the LA GATOR Education Savings Account (ESA) Program in a 24-15 vote, empowering LA’s students immensely. Governor Jeff Landry went on a TV advertising blitz asking LA voters to contact their State Senator to vote for the program.
“I don’t feel like it’s a big win for me,” Landry told the Illuminator after the vote. “I think it’s a big win for the kids of Louisiana, for parents out there who overwhelmingly, irrespective of party affiliation or economic means, have said in poll after poll after poll that the money should follow the child.” Landry is acting very humbly on this huge legislative win.
It is clear as day that parents are fighting to secure their right to have a say in their child’s education. Grassroots efforts are not going unnoticed. For anyone running for elected office this year, here is the campaign advice from semi-retired politico: if you want to win your election this November, be pro-school choice! There is nothing controversial about wanting K-12 students to be successful in their academic pursuits. It is long overdue to fund students – not teachers’ unions. The more state governments empower students the better our future looks.